Nitzy's Hockey Den

 In the final game of the 2024/25 NHL season,  Leaf defender Chris Tanev tied the score with a goal at 19:58 of the 3rd period. This falls one second short of the latest ever tying goal in Maple Leafs history, a distinction held by Miroslav Frycer and Ron Ellis. Nov 7, 1984 In the midst of a horrendous beginning to the season, the Leafs took on the equally awful Vancouver Canucks at Maple Leaf Gardens. Miroslav Frycer equalled the score with one second on the clock, even though the green light had turned on, signifying the end of the game.  "The Canucks thought time had expired, but referee Ron Hoggarth ruled the puck was over the line before the green light flashed to signal the end of the period. The Canucks protested to Hoggarth, but to no avail."   described by Toronto Star writer Rick Fraser.  Referee Hoggarth was also playing the part of timekeeper, in his head at least, "I looked at the clock with five seconds left and picked up the count. I start in fiv...

"I got started on the curved stick by accident. One day in practice my blade cracked up the middle. I bent it into a curve to break it but it wouldn't give. So I fooled around, playing with it. Now I can't use a straight stick anymore. I tried Lou Angotti's the other day. Every shot I took at the net went in the corner." This was Stan Mikita describing how he came to use a curved blade, from an article by Al Stewart in Maple Leaf Gardens Official Hockey Magazine from a game between Toronto and Chicago, April 18, 1967. One assumes that his sticks came from the factory with the wicked curve already included, but there was still many modifications needed to be done. Following, are some fantastic photos of Mikita and Assistant Trainer, Don "Sockeye" Uren customizing the sticks of one of hockey's all-time greats. Mikita explains how the trainer works the end of the stick, " 'Sock' sort of rounds the top of the sticks for me before I tape the...